vamp

¹ American  

[vamp] / væmp /

noun

1. the portion of a shoe or boot upper that covers the instep and toes.

2. something patched up or pieced together.

3. Jazz. an accompaniment, usually improvised, consisting of a succession of simple chords.

---

verb (used with object)

1. to furnish with a vamp, especially to repair (a shoe or boot) with a new vamp.

2. to patch up; repair.

3. to give (something) a new appearance by adding a patch or piece.

4. to concoct or invent (often followed byup ).

   He vamped up a few ugly rumors to discredit his enemies.

5. Jazz. to improvise (an accompaniment or the like).

verb (used without object)

1. Jazz. to improvise an accompaniment, tune, etc.

vamp ² American  

[vamp] / væmp /

noun

1. a seductive woman who uses her sensuality to exploit men.

---

verb (used with object)

1. to use feminine charms upon; seduce.

verb (used without object)

1. to act as a vamp.

vamp ¹ British  

/ væmp /

noun

1. something patched up to make it look new

2. the reworking of a theme, story, etc

3. an improvised accompaniment, consisting largely of chords

4. the front part of the upper of a shoe

---

verb

1. to give a vamp to; make a renovation of

2. to improvise (an accompaniment) to (a tune)

vamp ² British  

/ væmp /

noun

1. a seductive woman who exploits men by use of her sexual charms

---

verb

1. to exploit (a man) in the fashion of a vamp

Other Word Forms

• vamper noun
• vampish adjective

Etymology

Origin of vamp¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English va(u)mpe, wamp(e), from Anglo-French; Middle French avant-pie, equivalent to avant- “fore-” + pie “foot” ( French pied); see avaunt, -ped

Origin of vamp²

First recorded in 1905–10; short for vampire

Explanation

A vamp is an attractive, dangerously flirtatious woman. A vamp in an old movie might wear tight clothes and bright red lipstick. The noun vamp is somewhat old fashioned, implying a woman who uses her charisma and beauty to charm men into doing what she wants them to do. You can also use it as a verb, meaning to tease or flirt, especially in a showy and manipulative way. The word came into use in the early 1900's, from vampire. Some experts connect the first use of vamp with the role of "The Vampire" in the 1915 movie "A Fool There Was."

Example Sentences

The former Australian Paralympic swimmer wanted to vamp up her headshot and uploaded a full-length photo of her and prompted it really specifically that she was missing her left arm from below the elbow.

From BBC • Oct. 14, 2025

I think Eric Northman would probably put up a pretty good fight because he's got that vamp speed.

From Salon • Jun. 4, 2025

“I say in my act: ‘Catherine, you keep your Oscar, I’ll keep my vamp.’

From New York Times • Apr. 19, 2023

The show went so smoothly that it ran 20 minutes short, and Lewis, the host again, had to vamp desperately to try to hit the TV network’s scheduled “out.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 8, 2023

The three hops of the bunny became three struts of a vaudeville vamp.

From "Stargirl" by Jerry Spinelli

Related Words

• enchantress
• seductress
• temptress